Chapter 58 58: The Promised Land

Chapter 58 58: The Promised Land
\[ K A R A \]

The next thing I know, Ryder and I were driving down the highway in this convertible car. The summer wind was blowing through our hair and Ryder was holding my hand in his throughout the entire ride.

"We just passed the city limits,” I noted the sign. “Seriously, you're not gonna tell me where we're going?"

"And ruin the surprise? I think not,"

"Okay... just answer this then, is it somewhere where we could get a milkshake?" I said it naughtily.

"Damn, look at you go," he stifled a laugh.

"Six months of being away from you would do this to a girl,"

"Baby, I wish I could. But, actually, I want to wait," he said suddenly. "I wanna be that whatever unicorn-guy you've been dreaming of. I'll be that guy that waits for you and loves you no matter what,"

"What?" my voice was seriously high pitched.

"Yeah, it's only a week left anyway. I can take it,"

But I can't. I've been dying to touch him... everywhere!

"So... if that's not where we're going, what are we doing then?"

"It's not the milkshake you have in mind, but I think you'll love it just the same," he said meaningfully.

"But... I miss having a milkshake with you," I pouted.

"Oh, don't worry love, after our wedding night, I'll make sure you can have all the milkshake you want,"

"Is that a promise?" my lips twitched into a smile.

"You best believe it," he cocked his head to the side and said, "When I'm done with you, you won't be able to walk for days,"

Oh, holy mackerel. Should I just leap out of this car right now?

I didn't want him to know I was blushing like crazy, so I turned my face to the window and inhaled as much oxygen as I could.

"Gee, what a lovely weather we’re having today!" I screamed aloud, ignoring his stupid laughter in the background.



Throughout the next few hours, Ryder and I talked and sang to the songs on the radio. A part of me was convinced that this was a dream. This was totally crazy. Hours ago, I was sitting in my living room, packing my books and sweaters into boxes, and now I was sitting in a Mustang convertible, watching the sunset on the horizon.

Only Ryder could pull off something like this, a spontaneous across the state road trip a week before our wedding day. I wasn’t complaining though, I was having a blast. By dinnertime, we stopped by a random diner, and of course, I had to try their milkshake.

“Mmhm, not bad, this is pretty good,” I said as I slurped the milkshake.

“Lemme try,” Ryder opened his mouth and I pushed the straw towards him.

“Right?” I gauged his reaction.

“You’re right,” he nodded appreciatively. “I’d give it a solid 8.5,”

I smiled and took the milkshake back, slurping away the rest of that liquid goodness. “This is kinda nice. We should do this more often,”

“I agree. This can be our little tradition,”

“Going around America into random diners to try their milkshake?”

“That and kidnapping you,” he winked.

After we had dinner, I thought Ryder and I would check in to some motel before driving some more, but Ryder insisted to keep on driving. He still refused to tell me where we were going and he just told me to sleep in the car if I got sleepy. Arguing with Ryder wasn’t gonna work, so I played along. We continued talking all night, and we even caught the sunrise at dawn. But somewhere down the road, I had fallen asleep because my eyes were too heavy. I didn't know how long we had been driving, but when I opened my eyes next, the morning sun was already shining so bright. Ryder had stopped driving and we were in a huge open parking lot.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Ryder greeted me as he took off his sunglasses.

I squinted my eyes to get a better look at our surroundings, and then I saw it.

"You have got to be kidding me!" I gaped at him as soon as I recognized where we were.

"Welcome to the most magical place on Earth," a winning smile was plastered on his tired face.

That’s right. We were at freaking Disney World!



My eyes were glued to the sight before me as Ryder and I walked hand in hand. The white and blue castle was standing tall on the horizon, surrounded by a slew of colorful roller coaster rides, and the long lines forming outside of it.

"Ry…” I gaped. “Why in the fudgesicles are we here?"

"I asked Lacey what to get you for your birthday. She told me the story of how she promised to take you to Disneyworld for your eighth birthday but then she had to work and she couldn't take you. You cried for days because of that,"

Oh. That’s right. I was so caught up with the whole wedding, packing, and whatnot, I have completely forgotten that today is my birthday!

"I wanna be the guy that makes all your dreams come true. Because you're the girl that made all my dreams came true," he said again.

I was at a loss for words. Ryder took it as a good sign as he leaned in and his soft lips coaxed mine gently.

"Ry..." my breath was caught in my throat.

"Happy eight birthday, love," he murmured to my lips.

"Ryder... you're unbelievable—“

"—ly cute? Charming?"

"Full of yourself," I laughed. "But you've scored yourself some major brownie points, that's for sure,"

"Awesome. We'll just save those for our wedding night," he smirked.

I swallowed hard.

"Oh baby, just imagine the things I will do to you," he then raised his eyebrows playfully.

"I'd rather not imagine... I prefer the real thing," I gave him my best sultry smirk.

"Careful, you're playing with fire right now," his hand trailed down the back of my neck and it rested on the small on my back, holding me close as we walked into the park.

"You're gonna pay for that later," he grinned and I knew for sure I had turned beet red.



\[ R Y D E R \]

Kara made me ride everything in the damn park with her. Honestly, I never liked these places, selling lies and shit to people, calling it dreams. But here I was, walking around Magic Kingdom wearing matching Mickey and Minnie ears for shit's sakes.

Yeah, I have officially lost it. I am completely and utterly whipped for this girl and I love every single minute of it.

Before we knew it, the sun was setting. She wanted us to wait by the castle, where we could get a good spot to watch the fireworks. That was what she had been waiting for all day. Honestly, I was tired from all the driving and the walking around, but Kara was so excited about these fireworks, I couldn’t say no.

Meanwhile, I still hadn’t popped the question yet. All day long, I was trying to find the right moment to ask her about coming with me on the world tour, but I just couldn't bring myself to say it. I mean, what if she fucking said no? Then on the corner of my eye, I saw this stall selling frozen drinks. Suddenly I had an idea.

"Wait here," I said to her quickly before walking away.

I wanted to get her some milkshake because I knew she’d be in a great mood. I was just gone for five minutes to get it, and I came back to the exact spot where I left her, but she wasn't there!

Shit.

There were so many people all around us, I couldn't see her anywhere. And suddenly, all the lights went out, it was completely pitch black, and the fireworks were starting.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Everything became a blur. I was frantically searching for her, yelling her name out loud, but my voice was drowned by all the cheering and fireworks bursting. On top of that, my phone's battery had died. Of course, I was in the park all day, I didn’t get a chance to charge it.

Oh, great. Fucking universe won't give us a break.

"Ry!" suddenly I heard a voice and two arms wrapped me from the back. "Where did you go?"

I turned around and saw Kara, she was hugging me like a five year old hugging her favorite teddy bear. She wouldn't let go.

"I just went to get you these. When I came back, you were gone," I said, holding out the cup of milkshake in my hand.

"You scared me, don't ever leave me again," she cried into my chest.

"Baby, I would never,"

"I thought I won’t be able to find you, and we won't get to watch the fireworks together,"

"I know, we got lucky. We barely made it,"

She gave me the biggest smile as she took the milkshake cup from me. Her eyes lit up as she slurped away the drink.

"You want some?" she asked and I nodded.

But as my mouth leaned towards the straw, she pulled the drink away and laughed.

What a tease.

Quickly I grabbed her chin and kissed her with my open mouth, my tongue tasting her lips as I went.

"Mmhm, strawberry," I murmured. I was about to deepen our kiss when she suddenly pulled away.

"Careful Ry, let's not waste any more milkshakes in our lifetime," she said. Apparently, I almost knocked over the cup.

"Hey so, I need to ask you something," I took a deep breath and prepared myself. I had to shout a little to make sure she could hear me with all the fireworks and music playing in the background. "So, I just got offered a five-year world tour contract and I want you to come with me,"

I paused and studied her face.

"I know it's not ideal, we won't have an actual ‘home’ home, but on the bright side, we can go see the world together and have exciting adventures together. But still, if this isn't something that you're willing to do, you can let me know, and we will figure out another way,"

"So that's why you brought me out here for? To ask me that?" she cut me off suddenly.

"I, umm... Well..." I was just babbling like an idiot.

"Ryder, you are my home. You should know that by now,"

Her words literally took my breath away.

How could I not be crazy about this girl?

“Wait, does that mean…?”

"Let's go take on the whole damn world together," she smirked.

She used my line! Woman, just kill me now.

I wrapped her in my arms instantly. My nose nuzzled the nape of her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent. She buried her face on my chest, and I could feel her smiling at me there.

"Ry," she whispered, "I have one condition, though,"

"Anything baby, what is it?"

A subtle smile appeared on her soft lips.

"Kiss the fudgesicles out of me,"

She made me lose all my senses. She made me weak in the knees. I'd give the entire world for her.

"Of course," I did just as she asked.

The fireworks above us roared gloriously. I was thankful for the loud booming noise, otherwise, she might have heard my own heart beating like crazy.

Maybe I had gone soft, or maybe I had gone mad. But she made me believe this whole magic-dreams-shitshow thing was real after all.

Dreams fucking do come true.

There goes the fireworks, there goes my sanity, there goes my heart.







\- - - - - To Be Continued - - - - -